DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

THE NATION’S COMBAT LOGISTICS SUPPORT AGENCY

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May 29, 2019

Yolandra Y. Young

DLA Aviation

Source Approval Request 

Process
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SAR

• The Source Approval Request (SAR) must contain information 

about a prospective new supplier. IAW the Aviation Source 

Approval and Management Handbook 16 March 2011 Joint 

Aeronautical Commander’s Group (JACG): 

http://www.dla.mil/HQ/SmallBusiness/Business.aspx

• The SAR package must include all the technical data needed to 

demonstrate that the prospective supplier can competently 

manufacture or perform Repair, Overhaul, Maintenance and 

Modification (ROMM) of the item requiring source approval to 

the same level of quality or better than the system prime 

contractor, major subsystem contractor, or OEM. 
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SAR CATEGORIES

4 Categories of SARs:

•CAT I

•CAT II

•CAT III 

•CAT IV 

• SAR Category I - Actual Item: These SARs are 

received from suppliers who have manufactured or performed 

ROMM on the exact item on the OEM technical data for the 

prime contractor, OEM, another service, or a civil sector under 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Parts Manufacturer 

Approval (PMA) identically. The item will be produced and 

evaluated against the ESA approved technical data package.
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SAR CATEGORIES (cont’d)

• SAR Category II-Similar Item: These SARs are received 

from suppliers who have not previously manufactured, repaired, 

or overhauled the subject item, but have manufactured or 

performed ROMM on items similar in complexity, design, 

criticality, manufacturing/repair/overhaul processes, materials, 

and application for the: a) Prime Contractor, OEM, or another 

service using OEM data; b) civil sector under FAA PMA based on 

identically. The item will be produced and evaluated against the 

ESA’s approved technical data package.
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SAR CATEGORIES (cont’d)

•SAR Category III-New Manufacturer of Item: This category 

covers offers that do not meet Category I or II criteria but have the 

OEM’s technical data and intend to produce to the ESA approved 

technical data package.

•SAR Category IV-Alternate Item: These are SARs received from 

offers that are proposing an alternate part as the equivalent to the 

OEM part. Alternate items may only be considered when the 

Sourcing Handbook Section 1.9 criteria are met. Reengineering is 

the creation of an alternative design or manufacturing process and 

should be addressed via Engineering Change Process MIL-HDBK61A, Configuration Management Guidance. 

•We will receive Reverse Engineering Approval from Engineering 

Support Activity before we evaluate CAT IV SARs.
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SAR CATEGORIES (cont’d)

• RE is discussed in more detail in Section 1.9 and in Chapter 4 

of the main body of the JACG Handbook.
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SAR CONTENTS CHECKLIST

Exhibit A
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WEBFLIS

• Review WEBFLIS @ 

(https://fp.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/webflis) to 

determine the Method of Procurement

• AMC=Acquisition Method Code 

• AMSC=Acquisition Method Suffix Code 
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AMSC

• AMSC G: Will not be evaluated. These NSN(s) are already 

designated as fully open and competitive.

• AMSC B: Must go to Design Control Activity of the Drawing for 

approval!!! This part is restricted to source(s) specified on: 

SOURCE CONTROL, ALTERED ITEM OR SELECTED ITEM 

DRAWINGS/DOCUMENTS. **Exception: Military – OEM**

• AMSC D&Q: Government does not have adequate data OR lacks 

rights to data to evaluate.
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WEBFLIS MOE

• MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL ENTITY (MOE): Code which 

represents a specific major organizational entity (MOE) rule that 

applies to the management of that item of supply.

• DA = Army

• DF = Air Force

• DM = Marines

• DN = Navy
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UPDATED SAR CHANGES

NAVY

Category III, New Manufacture of Item: The proposing manufacturer has the

appropriate equipment, capability, staff, procedures, quality system, and technical

data required to manufacture the subject item according to the technical

requirements but has never manufactured the subject item or any similar items for

the OEM or any government activity. Category III SARs will not be accepted by the

Navy. If this situation occurs, NAVSUP-WSS may work with the manufacturer in

order to identify similar items that can be used for a Category II SAR.

AIR FORCE

The Air Force has implemented Manufacturers Qualification Requirements 

(MQR) PDS-1

This QR establishes minimum technical requirements that potential sources 

must satisfy in order to obtain ESA approval to manufacture propulsion items. 
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DIBBS

DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) Internet Bulletin Board System

• Solicitations found on DIBBS will not be held up pending your 

SAR evaluation.

• SARs may not be processed if it is determined that the SAR is not 

cost effective due to low item demand, low dollar value, years of 

Stock on Hand, and multiple sources cited on TIR (Total Item 

Record). Please review the DLA supplier requirements visibility 

application for estimated forecasting requirements before 

submitting a SAR.
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SAR FORMAT

• Hard Copy Binders are discouraged. Please submit your SARs 

on CDs. It is more cost effective for all. 

• Write NSN, CAT, and Company Name on disc with sharpie.

• Submit CDs that are not Password Protected and DO NOT contain 

Password Protected documents.

• Submit SAR as one PDF file!!!!! NO ZIP FILES!!

Note: SARs will not be returned.
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SAR FORMAT (CONT’D)
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SAR FORMAT (CONT’D)
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SUBMISSION

• If there is an open solicitation for a NSN which you want to submit 

a SAR, please submit the SAR directly to the buyer noted on the 

solicitation.

• If you are submitting a SAR for a NSN with no open solicitation, 

please send it to the Competition Advocate SAR Program office 

address below:

SAR Program DLA Aviation

Attn: DLA AVN-DU 

(SAR Program Manager)

8000 Jefferson Davis Highway

Richmond, VA 23297-5100
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QUESTIONS???